Neck wear appliance



Marc?) 1, 1938. c, PlTcHER 2,110,054

NECK WEAR APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 15, 1936 IN VENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar, 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE Application August 15, 1936,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a positioner or retainer for neck-wear of the type usually worn by men.

An object is to provide a retainer for such neck-wear which will effectively hold the same in the desired position without requiring that the neck-wear be knotted.

A further object is to provide a neck-wear retainer, which may be easily secured in place, without the use of clasps.

A further object is to provide a collar holder having means arranged positively to engage the collar, but without danger of tearing it,

Still another object is to provide a combined collar and necktie (or scarf and lapel) retainer wherein the parts are extremely simple to manufacture, and assemble.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description relating to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows the preferred forms for use with a collar and conventional four in hand tie. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

and. tie; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the retainer showing its operative relationship to portions of the collar (shown in section), and to a tie, the latter being indicated in broken lines: Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, showing particularly the collar engaging means of the retainer; Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken as indicated by the line 4-4 on Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of retainer; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, showing the preferred manner in which the collar-engaging means is secured to the tie-holding part, Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 1, but without the retainer device hereof these views being included to show the preferred manner of adjusting the tie for use with the retainer, and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified retainer.

Referring further to the drawing the bosom portion of the shirt is indicated at I and the collar a 2, the latter having the usual wings 3. A tie 5 of the four-in-hand type has a knot effect 6to be later more fully described.

The retainer, as shown, comprises a main body of say light gauge fiat wire stock, having a central circular loop I I), the throat H of which is comparatively narrow being in actual practice no wider than 1%". The ends of the wire stock Serial No. 96,215 (CI. 2449) are bent outwardly from the throat to form collar contacting arms I 2. The loop and arms l2 for use with a collar and tie are preferably in one plane, to facilitate manufacture and to make the device operate most effectively in holding the neck-wear. The stock is of spring metal so that the loop may be spread to receive the tie, and so that afterward the tie will be securely gripped. The entire device may be decorated as by plating, etc. The knot into the embrace of the loop Ill through the restricted throat II, and the tie is conditioned for being retained as is illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8.

In Fig. 7 it will be seen that the depending portion of the tie has gle turn 1 of theportion 5b, as in the usual course of tying a four-in-hand tie. Now, instead of completing the knot, as by passing the portion 52) more than once around the portion 5a and. finally tucking it downwardly through the outer turn of the tie portion 5b, the portion 5b may be allowed to fall downwardly over the incomplete knot, (shown as started at 'l) as is illustrated at 5 in Fig. 8. It is to be understood that the portion 5b may be passed about the portion 5a more than once in order to secure thicker knot-effects. However, the free end does not have to be passed throughthe loop or loops in the tie, and this saves wearing and wrinkling the tie, thus prolonging its period of use. When the retainer hereof is slipped over the tie spreading the sides of the loop as much as necessary to receive it, the outer portion 5 is folded around the inner portion 50, (see Fig. 2), so that when the tie is fully embraced by the loop I 0 of the retainer, a 35 close simulation of a complete knot is effected. The loop I0 is sufficiently small so that the two strands of the tie are snugly embraced by the loop in its normal i. e. unsprung position. The loop is preferably about inside diameter and 40 the throat as shown is about one quarter of said diameter. If the device is made wider than the maximum limit above indicated and the knot effect obtained solely by being embraced by the loop the outer strand of the tie has a tendency 5 to slip out of the throat at one side and the knot appearance is destroyed.

For holding the collar wings, I provide two devices l5, each comprising, as shown, a coil of wire which embraces the metal stock of the body l0-l2 near the throat H, the coils l6 preferably being held in place by notches l3, (see Fig. 5), one being shown as engaged by the last turn lBa. Each wire of the member 15 adjacent the last turn lBb (see Fig. 4),

portion of the tie is slipped 10,

been embraced by a sin- 15;

is extended down- 2 wardly below the horizontal plane of the arms l2 then away from the arms as at H, looping back toward the arms as at l8, and then being formed into a hook I9, having a pointed end 20 adapted partially to pierce the collar material as will be apparent in Fig. 2. The points 20 do not pierce more than one thickness of the collar because of shoulders 2|, formed near the points when the stock is cut ofi, as will be apparent from Fig. 3. The open loops ll--l8, above mentioned, provide operating arms, by which the hooks l9 may be swung away from the vertical planes of the arms [2, thereby enabling the collar wings tobe easily inserted into place, as shown in Fig. 2 and to enable easy detachment of the hooks from the collar. The arms enough to permit them to be grasped between the thumb and finger for movement of the hooks to' inactive position (see llzc, Fig. 2). By arranging the releasing arms l'I-l8 and the hooks l9 in planes below the horizontal plane of the arms I2, the releasing 'arms are much more easily grasped than would be the case if the arms were higher. From Fig. 2, it will be apparent that the coils it which lie adjacent the loop [0 assist the spring action of the loop in preventing the tie strands from slipping out of the throat by presenting the effect of a roughened surface inside the loop or at the throat.

Referring to Fig. 6 this shows a. simplified arrangement by which hooks l9 may be formed directly on the arms i2, thus obviating the necessity for the coils Hi. This arrangement is made of spring stock (preferably very light gauge fiat strip spring stock of high grade alloy that can not be easily permanently distorted out of shape although considerably bent). Points at 3B are formed on the loop ID for engagement with the tie to prevent its working out of the throat of the loop, even though the loop is distorted by the bulk'of the tie so as to leave a wide gap at the throat. The arms I2 have the hook effects l9 directly formed thereon and these may, in some instances, extend normal to the stock since the arms ordinarily press the collar with sufficient force to hold such points in engagement with the collar material. The end portions of the arms extend from spring loop effects 32 in the stock substantially according to the broken line indications of said end portions and they are pressed outwardly to the position shown in full lines by engagement with the collar points. The loop effects 32 allow this movement of the arms without spreading apart the sides of the central loop Hi. The loops 32 also form handles for engagement by the thumb and finger for manipulating the device.

In Fig. 9 a form of retainer is shown wherein a chain or other flexible clasp I0 for the tie, is anchored to a. one piece bar l2" as at 35 and detachably fastened thereto as at 36 to enable the clasp to embrace and retain the tie. The fastening at 35 may be a hook or any other detachable device. The bar l2" extends across the clasp ID in one piece and may have a loop at 31 to increase the resiliency of the arms in case the stock of which the bar is formed is too stiff. Collar engaging hooks (which may merely be straight points) are shown at I9.

It is to be understood that when the collar wing positioning hooks are used, whether for engagement on the outside or inside of the collar wings,

' said wings may have inconspicuous keepers in the nature of eyes or staples fastened thereto for engagement by the hooks.

l'l-I8 are long.

collar ends securely without danger of damaging the collar. The device may be applied without requiring any special skill and one does not need a mirror, since tie adjustment (centering) is accomplished principally by the loops [0, H1 or When the device, in general accordance with any illustrated form, is used to secure a scarf of the type worn substantially as is the tie shown in Fig. 8, the loop I!) may be displaced by a single horizontal bar from which the outward panel of the scarf is suspended at the top fold. In such case the end portions of the arms l2, I2 or l2" would extend downwardly from the horizontal portion of the bar and be arranged securingly to engage the coat lapels by any suitable arrangement.

Iclaim: I

1. A retainer of the class described, comprising a metal bar adapted to bridge the wings of a collar, having hooks with points adapted to penetrate the collar material to hold the wings together, said hooks having shoulders closely adjacent the points, to limit the penetration of such material by the points.

2. A retainer of the class described, comprising a main body adapted to bridge the wings of a collar, and spring hooks on the body swingable toward and away from the body to engage and disengage such collar, and means on said hooks engageable by the thumb and finger of the user, to swing the hooks as aforesaid.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a looped member arranged to receive a necktie from one side and clasp it to form a knot effect in the tie, said loop having arms extending therefrom substantially in the plane of the loop, arranged to press rearwardly against the wings of a collar, and means secured to said arms and adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the collar wings and hold the wings against relative separation.

4. A collar and tie retainer, comprising a spring metal strip formed into a loop for embracing the tie, and lateral arms adapted to contact with the collar, coiled wire on opposite portions of the strip, said coils having free portions extending away from the arms and adapted retainingly to engage the collar wings.

5. A retainer of the class described, comprising a metal strip adapted to bridge the end portions of a collar and lie thereagainst, the bar having notches therein, coils of wire embracing the arms and held in place by the notches, said coils having free end portions arranged retainingly to engage the collar.

6. A collar and necktie retainer, comprising a main body having a portion formed to embrace the necktie, and spring hooks positioned to engage the end portions of the collar, there being means on said hooks engageable by the thumb and finger of the user, to move the hooks from collar-engaging position.

'7 A retainer of the class described, comprising a bar having hooks for engagement with a collar or lapel at its end portions, each of said hooks having a pointed end and a shoulder adjacent the point, whereby the point cannot pierce cloth material beyond a predetermined distance.

8. A collar and tie retainer comprising a loop for embracing the tie having means to prevent rotational dislocation of the tie in the loop, and arms to engage the collar.

9. A neckwear retainer comprising a single metal bar having a central portion with means to embrace and position a tie or scarf, and lateral arm portions having hooks struck inwardly therefrom between said means and the ends of the arms, said hooks being arranged and adapted to pierce cloth and remain in engagement therewith.

10. A tie and collar positioner having a spring bar adapted to engage the collar wings and hold them in position, and a flexible tie retainer attached at one end to the bar and adapted to pass forwardly around the tie, the other end of retainer being detachably secured to the bar.

HARRY C. PITCHER. 

